A Moray artist has gone from having her work exhibited in a small local pub to a prestigious Edinburgh gallery.
Two years ago, Anna Kajos laboured over a giant mural of television’s Muppets which was painted onto a wall of the Midas pub in Elgin and is still admired by regulars.
Her talents are now being appreciated on a grander stage by visitors to the Royal Scottish Academy, which is famed as the country’s “home of contemporary art”.
The Moray College school of art graduate is having her pieces displayed in the “new contemporaries” show.
Organisers are aiming to highlight the skills of the “best and brightest” graduates of the nation’s five art schools at the gallery between now and April 18.
Miss Kajos is the only graduate from the University of the Highlands and Islands to be featured at the Edinburgh venue.
She ventured to the capital last week to set up her vibrant exhibition, which was inspired by her dreams, and last night said it felt “surreal” to see her work in such an illustrious setting.
The aspiring professional artist said: “The installation includes collages, mixed media, large-scale paintings and sculptures.
“The inspiration comes from dreams, I’m trying to observe the connection between conscious and unconscious thoughts.
“The exhibition has been an amazing experience so far, and I really hope it is just the starting point for me being able to realise my ambitions of becoming a professional artist.”
Miss Kajos added: “The mural I did for the pub was just for fun, but I am pleased that people seem to like it and still talk about it.”
Originally from Hungary, the 25-year-old moved to the UK during her gap year in 2012 and decided to apply for art courses in Scotland.
The Elgin resident has rented out a room to work at the town’s MC3 Creative Space building since last summer
Miss Kajos’s participation in the exhibition marks the 10th consecutive year where a student from Moray College’s art department has been represented.
Event convener, Derrick Guild, described Miss Kajos as “great to work with” and “a real feather in the cap for Moray School of Art”.
